Police could be forced to 'babysit' underage crims thanks to overcrowding

Police could be forced to babysit underage criminals in makeshift suburban jails, if the Queensland government implements a secret “contingency plan” uncovered by 9NEWS.

With Queensland’s two youth detention centres severely overflowing, senior police sources have revealed their anger at the new idea to house juveniles at suburban watch houses which would operate around-the-clock.

Some watch houses only operate for a select number of hours each day, but they could be forced to remain open 24/7.

Sandgate is one of the watch houses being earmarked to house underage juveniles. (9News)

9NEWS understands one location is being considered at Sandgate on Brisbane’s north-side, with another disused watch house flagged at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast.

Brisbane barrister and chair of Youth Advocacy Centre, Damien Atkinson, slammed the idea and said juvenile offenders could be subject to assaults and sexual offences when mixed with adult offenders.

“There are risks of young vulnerable people being associated with hardened criminals,” he said.

It would mean police would be forced to babysit criminals in their local cells. (9News)

“I can’t see that if we’re doing the best we can to divert young people away from a lifetime of offending, that could possibly be any kind of solution,” said Mr Atkinson.

Alex Scott from the Together union, which represents prison guards, said more long-term solutions were needed to curb the youth detention crisis.

He said bashings, riots and violence against staff were on the rise as the underage prison population soared.

“Clearly there are too many kids in the system at the moment,” he said.

It all comes as the state government is in the middle of moving 17-year-old offenders out of adult jails and back into youth detention – a process that has been significantly delayed due to the ballooning number of teenage inmates.

Queensland Police would not comment specifically on the ‘watch house plan’ when asked by 9NEWS.

“Some watch houses which typically operate solely during business hours have the capability to increase operations to a 24/7 on a contingency basis, however, there are no watch houses currently operating in this extended format,” a statement read.

“As a temporary measure, a small number of officers from North Brisbane District will be offered special duty arrangements on overtime to perform duties at the Brisbane watch house.

Caloundra is another watch house that would take the detention centre overflow. (9News)

“These arrangements are in line with usual practices of offering overtime for operational requirements and will not affect frontline police capabilities as the officers will be working additional hours to their substantive positions.

“The overtime will be funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women.

“The safety and care of all people in custody remains a high priority of the QPS.”